Russian society had been ripped up by the roots, and the whole country reduced to a huge human jungle.  Human life was at a discount, in fact was the cheapest thing in the country.  If a centre of order was to be created anywhere, force must be provided for its initial protection.  Statecraft cannot work with violence ever threatening its very life.  The risks were great, a big force would create suspicion, a small force must rely upon something more than mere bayonets for its safety.  It was with due regard to its dangers, but with a certainty that it was worth it, that I accepted the task which the fates had forced upon me.

We had settled down for a winter in Spascoe, when I received the necessary orders to proceed to Omsk, with the suggestion that before executing them I had better visit Headquarters at Vladivostok for a conference with General Knox.  I tried to get a carriage suitable for the journey for my Staff from the railway authorities, but failed, and ended by purloining a cattle-truck.  In this contraption we got as far as Nikolsk, where our truck was to have been hung on to the Harbin Express; but the station-master, the best type of Russian public official, thought it a disgrace that the Commander and Staff of their most trusted Ally should travel so.  He placed his private car at my disposal on my promise to return the same if and when I could find another.  We arrived at “Vlady,” and in four days had completed the arrangements for the move and secured verbal and documentary instructions as to the general policy to be pursued.  The means to be employed to worm my way towards the Urals were left entirely to myself.

I had already formed a very high opinion of the Russian character.  Much can be done by sympathy and persuasion, but if they fail, then the “big stick” of Peter the Great, used sparingly, is the only method which is certain to secure obedience to orders.

On the return journey I was hung up at Nikolsk for several days.  Heavy rains had caused the valleys and marshes to become flooded, and a haystack which had been carried off its bed by the water had lodged against the temporary sleeper buttress and swept the bridge away.  The hay had held the torrent back till it became so high that it rushed over about two miles of the railway, destroying that also.  The Japs would not repair the damage, nor for some time would they give a chance for the Russians to do so.  I managed to get orders through to Major Browne so that no time was actually lost.  It was estimated that it would take seven days to get on the move, but by a general hustle all round in three days we began our 5,000 miles journey.  Starting from Spascoe we travelled to Nikolsk, and then turned back up the Manchurian-Chinese Eastern Railway.  On arriving at Nikolsk we were informed that the French Tonquin Battalion had also received orders to move west some seven days prior to us, but were not yet ready, nor were they likely to be for two or three days.  We had arrived at “Vlady,” and gone thence to the Ussurie front before the French; so now again we led the way towards the sinking sun.